System of signaling.



No. 660,470. Patented 001. 23, I900. E. J. SILKMAN.

SYSTEM OF SIGNA L ING.

(Application filed Mar. 13; 1899; Renewed Aug. 6, 1900.) (N0 M m Y 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

. IP11 L- witwedwo No. 660,470. Patnted Oct. 23, I900- E J SILKMAN SYSTEM OF SIGNALING. (Application filed Mar. 13, 189?. Renewed Aug. 6, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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T0 uruo" WASHINGTON u c No. 660,470. Patented 0st 23, I900.

I E. J. SILKMAN.

SYSTEM OF SIGNALING.

(Application filed. Mar. 13, 1899. Renewed Aug. 6, 1900.)

(NoMndeL 4 Sheats-Sheet 3.

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No. 660,470. Patentedflct. 23, I900.

E J SILKMAN SYSTEM OF SIGNALING. I (Application filed. Mar. 13, 1899. Renewed Aug. 6 1900.)

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(NoModeL) my application,Serial No. 675, 139,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. S ILKMAN, OF BALTIMORE,

MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO CHARLES SELDEN AND EDGAR WESLEY DAY, OF SAME PLACE.

SYSTEM OF SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660.470, dated October 23, 1900.

Application filed March 13, 1899- Renewed August 6, 1900- Serial No. 26,060. (No model.)

To (1, whom it Worry concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. SILKMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bal timore, State of Maryland, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Sys tems of Signaling; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in methods of and apparatus for signaling from one station to another when there is no electrical or mechanical connection. between the two stations. Thus the system is especially adapted for signaling from ship to ship, or from one part of a moving army to another, or across long distances of rough country.

The system is applicable to either day or night signals.

My present invention is an improvement upon and simplification of that described in filed March 25, 1898.

My invention consists, broadly, in transmitting signals by a suitable signaling device and in making those signals manifest at the receiving end in the form of letters of the alphabet, the Arabic numerals, or the signs of. a code. This is accomplished by means of a rotating disk or plate, which can be rotated at any desired or predetermined speed and whose angular mot-ion through any predetermined angle is used to indicate a letter, numerahorother symbolpreviouslyagreed upon. The speed of rotation of the disk or plate at the receiving-station must bear a known relation to the speed of rotation of the device for recording the signals at the sending-station, the two preferably rotating at the same rate of speed, though not necessarily in absolute synchronism. The rotation of either or both of the sending and receiving devices may be continuous or intermittent, as desired, but is only necessary during the actual time oi signaling, and in my invention either or both of these devices maybe started orstopped at will or adjusted, the one entirely independent of the other.

At each station I provide a rotating disk,

the two disks being divided up into a like number of sectors similarly marked, with an index adapted to point to a single sector in each disk, With-means independently operated at each station for causing these disks to rotate synchronously and for setting the said disks so that at any given time the indome of the two disks will point to corresponding sectors. In addition to these two disks with attachments, as described, there is provided at the sending-station a means for making a flash-light, semaphore, or other signal, which signal is made at the time the disk at that station is indicating the letter, char- 'acter,v or code-symbol desired to be made known, while at the receiving-station the receiver either notes the signal made at the sending-station and reads his disk or operates a separate signaling instrument in connection with the receiver at the time he sees the signal made from the sending-station, and thus enables an assistant to read the signal from the receiving-disk. By this arrange- ;ment it is not necessary to have the two disks in absolute synchronism; but the disk at the receiving-station may be and usually will be slightly behind the disk at the sending-station. In my invention I also provide means independently operated at each station for adjusting the said disks so that they may rotate in approximate synchronism. Thus the system is not dependent upon any electrical or mechanical connection between the apparatus by whichthe signals are sent and that with which they are received.

The said invention also includes combinations of devices and details of construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which the same parts are indicated by the same letters throughout the several views.

Figure 1 represents a plan view of one of the rotating disks with means for adjusting the same. Fig. 2 represents a section along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a section along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Figs. at and 5 represent diagrammatically the two stations-t hat is, the sending-station and the receiving-stationwithout any electrical or mechanical connection between the two. Fig.

6 represents a side elevation of a modification in which the disk instead of moving continuously is given a step-by-step motion. Fig. 7 represents a section along the line 7 7 of Fig. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 8 represents a section along the line 8 8 of Fig. 6 and also looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the device for increasing the friction of the shaft in its bearings, showing a transverse section across the shaft and bearing.

A represents a box or platform on which the instrument is mounted, on which platform is secured the plate A, carrying the stanchions B, supporting the shaft 0. This shaft may be journaled directly in these stanchions, but is preferably supported by adjustable journal-bearings comprising the yoke b, the set-screw b, and the sleeve 5 trunnioned in the said yoke 19. The shaft 0 may be clamped in one of these sleeves b by means of the screw 17 (see Fig. 2) for purposes that will hereinafter be described. Secured to this shaft 0 are set-collars c to prevent longitudinal play of the said shaft, and loosely mounted on this shaft is the sleeve D, having the sprocket-wheel D at one end thereof and a miter-gear D at the other end. This miter-gear meshes in the crown-wheel E journaled on the arm E of the sleeve E, which is fast to the shaft (J. This crownwheel E? meshes in the miter-gear F attached to or integral with the sleeve F, also journaled on the shaft 0. The arm E and the miter-gear D should preferably be balanced, as by means of the ball or counterweight E The opposite end of this sleeve F is preferably fianged, as at F, and has secured thereto the spokes f, to which the disk G is secured; but this disk may be secured directly to the flange F instead of to the spokes f, if preferred. In front of this disk G is a pointer H, mounted on the sleeve H, loose on the shaft 0, which sleeve H has the projecting arm H made of magnetic material and forming the armature of the electromagnet H This magnet is connected, by means of conductors I and I, to the battery K and also to the electromagnet M, which magnet M operates the shutter M in front of the parabolic mirror N, in which an arc-light is mounted. The searchlight thus shown is intended diagrammatically to illustrate any form of sig nal-light or any form of semaphore or other signal which may be operated by an electromagnet.

L represents an ordinary telegraphers key or operating-key of other suitable form. L represents a switch for making and breaking the circuit, and L a switch for cutting out the flash-light or other signaling device and yet closing the circuit at the receiving-station. 7

0, Fig. 2, represents a sprocket-chain driven by means of the sprocket-wheel P and motor Q, by means of which the disk is rotated. This motor Q is preferably run by clockwork,

and the motors should preferably beof standard type and so regulated as to run within reasonable limits in synchronism, though no very great exactness of synchronism is reqnired, as will be hereinafter described.

The shaft 0 being clamped in the sleeve 19 by means of the clamp-screw 6 as seen in Fig. 2, rotation is given to the disk G by means of the motor Q, sprocket-wheel P, sprocket-chain O, sleeve D, crown-wheel E and sleeve F, and thus the said sleeve F will rotate, carrying with it the disk G, even though the shaft 0 be rigidly held against rotation. By clamping the screwb and turning this shaft 0 to the right or left by means of the knurled head R, fast to the shaft C, the disk G may be turned backward or forward without disturbing the continuous operation of the motor, and thus the disk G may be turned backward and forward until by a prearranged signal from the other station the pointer H corresponds in position relative to sector of disk with the pointer at the other station, and when above occurs the two disks will be in synchronism and the two indexes will be pointing at corresponding sectors on each disk as the said sectors pass.

The several sectors of each disk are marked by letters or signs according to some prearranged oode-such, for instance, as is shown in the upper right-hand quadrant of Figs. 3, 4:, and 5.

For convenience in reading the marks on the several sectors as they pass the pointers H it may be preferable to have a step-bystep motion imparted to the disks G, which is accomplished by the escapement shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, in which D represents a hub fast to the sleeve D and provided with one or more teeth (1 adapted to strike the arms '2? of the yoke T, which yoke is fast to the shaft T, journaled in the bearing V, fast to the plate A. The said shaft T carries the escapement-yoke T having the arms 7?, engaging alternately the teeth of the toothed wheel U, fast to the sleeve F. In this case the shaft 0 must be free to turn in its bearings, and the rotation of the sleeve D will' impart a step-by-step motion to the disk G; but at the same time the said disk may be adjusted by means of the knurled head R, fast to the shaft O, as already described with reference to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

Since the friction of the shaft in its bearings should be greater than that of the disk on its bearings, I provide a friction-block b", pressing on the shaft 0, as shown in Fig. 9, the block 19 being pressed on by the spring b under tension from the adjusting-screw b engaging threads in the lug b In either case the operation of the device will be the same, which operation is as follows: Assuming that it is desired to signal at night from one ship to another and that each ship is provided with the apparatus shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4 or Fig. 5, the sender closes the switch L and moves his switch L to the contact 1 (keeping both closed during the sending of the message) and starts the motor. When the disk rotates to bring any predetermined letter or symbol--as, for instance, the letter J-in front of the pointer H, he presses the keyLand flashes the light N. The observer on the ship signaled to, having his switch L closed and his switch L on the contact 1, starts the motor and closes his switch L and flashes a signal back. Closing the switch L causes the pointer H on his instru ment to move, due to the operation of the electromagnet H The switch L should be immediately swung open at the receivingstation and closed only for an instant, when each flash from the sending-station is noted at the receiving-station. The signal is repeated at the sending-station one or more times, each time as the key-letter passes the pointer, so that the operator at the receivingstation can start his motor and move his disk backward or forward until the key-letter on his disk is opposite the pointer at the instant that he sees the signal. The receivers disk will then be practically in synchronism with the senders; but since the delay in transmission will be practically a constant quantity there will be a slight lag of one disk behind the other, which, however, will not in any way interfere with the sending of messages. If the receiver wishes to cut out.his own flashlight or other signal, he may move his switch L on to the contact 2, when motion of the switch L or key L will operate the pointer H, but will not flash the light N. If now the two motors r'un substantially in synchronism, as close, say, as the minute hands of two watches which have just been set together, the sender can spell out a message by pressing his key L every time the proper letter passes his pointer, while the receiver, noting the flashes, can observe the same letter. Then passing the pointer on his disk and jotting down these letters he can spell out the message at his end, or, if the n umerals or any other code-signals be used, he can note the signal made and then read its meaning from the signal book or code. 7

For convenience in reading the signals it is preferable to have two observers, one to note the flash and immediately close the switch L at the receiving end and the other to jot down the letter or symbol indicated by the pointer when its electromagnet'is energized. In this way the ofliceror quartermaster on watch could repeat the signals, which could be read by the signal officer or by the captain in his lighted stateroom or cabin. Moreover, the man on deck repeating the signal can form no idea of the purport of the message and has to do only the mechanical work of pressing a key.

In order to increase the number of signs which could be made, there may be several tiers of letters or symbols arranged on the disk in concentric circles, and by a prearranged code the signal may be readfrom any circle. Thus either an arbitrary character used on one tier may indicate that the operator should change to the next tier (thus a star on the outer tier may indicate that the signal refers to the next inner tier, and so on) or single flashes during the signaling may be used to indicate that the outer circle of symbols is to be used. Two quick flashes in rapid succession may indicate that the second circle of symbols is to be used. Three quick flashes in rapid succession may indicate that the third circular row of symbols is to be employed, and so on, though in practice it would probably be seldom desirable to have more than three circular rows of symbols.

So long as the two disks run substantially in synchronism the two pointers after once being set together will always point to the same letter or symbol; and since the disks at any time may be adjusted so that the two pointers indicate the same letter there will be no difficulty in keeping the disks in synchronism during the message.

Of course it is desirable to get the various motors used in this system regulated to run very nearly together, but absolute synchronism is by no means necessary, since the disks can be set together as often as desired and always should be so set before beginning a message.

While I have referred to a flash of light as the visible signal, it will be obvious that a semaphore, as shown in my application Serial No. 675, 139, or other suitable signaling device may be substituted for the flash of light.

It will be seen that to signal according to the system herein described requires no special technical skill and that the signal may be made and received in absolute privacy, the sender being able to work in private and likewise the receiver, while the signalman,

noting the visual or sound signal, merely presses a key and so informs the receiver of the purport of the signal, but not cognizant of its meaning himself.

It will be obvious that the key letter or signal may be changed as often as desired, and also fresh series of disks diflt'erently marked may be substituted from time to time, and that unless the key-letter is known and the disks similarly marked it will be practically impossible to understand the message. Thus great flexibility is insured in the system, and at the same time that vital feature, secrecy, is maintained. The herein-described system of signaling is therefore obviously easy, simple, and safe.

A step-by-step motion imparted to the disk, as is shown in Figs. 6 to 8, might make it easier to send and to read messages, but for ordinary purposes it will be sufficientto have the disk rotate slowly and continuously.

It will be obvious that the disks maybe made stationary and the pointers caused to rotate, if preferred, or both may be caused to rotate either in the same or opposite directions.

Where the distance between the sending" and receiving stations is fairly constant during the message, it will be possible to signal by sound nearly as well as bya visual signal. Thus if a revolver be fired as the pointer marks the key-letter on the sending-disk the receiving-disk can be set so that the receiver will note the same letter, and then since the successive sounds will take the same time to travel between the stations the two disks will apparently be in synchronism and messages can be transmitted, although in fact the receiving-disk may lag a considerable angle behind the sending-disk.

It will be evident that two or more disks, with their pointers, may be placed in each circuit to indicate the signals made by a single switch or key L, and thus one observer may transmit the same signal simultaneously to several receiving instruments located at different points.

It will be obvious that various other modifications might be made in the apparatus and in the details thereof, which could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. An apparatus for signaling, comprising two disks with symbols similarly arranged thereon, means for rotating said disks approximately in synchronism, and means for making a visual or audible signal when the proper symbol on one disk passes a given index, each disk and its operating mechanism, being wholly unconnected from the otherdisk, substantially as described.

. 2. An apparatus for signaling, comprising two similar disks with symbols thereon, one disk at the sending-station and one at the receiving-station, means for rotating each of said disks, means for so adjusting the motion of said disks that they shall move approximately in synchronism, and means for making a Visual or audible signal when the proper symbol on one disk passes a given index, each disk and its operating mechanism, being wholly unconnected from the other disk, substantially as described.

3. An apparatus for signaling, comprising two disks with symbols similarly arranged thereon, means for rotating said disks approximately in synchronism, apointer at each disk, means for setting the two disks in the same angular relation relative to their respective pointers, and means for making a visual or audible signal when the propersymbol on one disk passes its pointer, each disk and its operating mechanism, being wholly unconnected from the other disk, substantially as described.

4.. An apparatus for signaling, comprising two similar disks with symbols thereon, one

disk at the sending-station and one at the re ceiving-station, means for rotating each of said disks, means for so adjusting the motion of said. disks that they shall rotate approximately in synchronism, a pointer at each disk, means for setting the two disks in the same angular relation relative to their respective pointers, and means for makinga visual or audible signal when the proper symbol on one disk passes its pointer, each disk and its operating mechanism, being wholly unconnected from the other disk, substantially as described.

5. An apparatus for signaling, comprising two disks with symbols similarly arranged thereon, clockwork mechanism at each station for rotating said disks approximately in synchronism, and means for making a visual or audible signal when the proper symbol on one disk passes a given index, each disk and its operating mechanism, being wholly unconnected from the other disk, substantially as described.

6. An apparatus for signaling, comprising two similar disks with symbols thereon, one disk at the sending-station and one at the receiving-station,clockwork mechanism at each station for rotating said disks, means for so adjusting the motion of said disks that they shall move approximately in synchronism, and means for making avisual or audible signal when the proper symbol on one disk passes a given index, each disk and its operating mechanism, being wholly unconnected from the other disk, substantially as described.

7. An apparatus for signaling, comprising two disks with symbols similarly arranged thereon, clockwork mechanism at each station for rotating said disks approximately in synchronism, a pointer at each disk, means for setting the two disks in the same angular relation relative to their respective pointers, and means for making a visual or audible signal when the proper symbol on one disk passes its pointer, each disk and its operatiugmechanism, being wholly unconnected from the other disk, substantially as described.

8. An apparatus for signaling, comprising two similar disks with symbols thereon, one disk at the sending-station and one at the receiving-station,olockwork mechanism at each station for rotating each of said disks, means for so adjusting the motion of said disks that they shall move approximately in synchronism, a pointer at each disk, means for setting the two disks in the same angular relation relative to their respective pointers, and means for making a visual or audible signal when the proper symbol on one disk passes its pointer, each disk and-its operating mechanism, being wholly unconnected from the other disk, substantially as described.

9. An apparatus for signaling, comprising two disks with symbols similarly arranged thereon, clockwork mechanism at each station for rotating said disks approximately in synchronism, an electric battery, and means IIO adjusting the motion of said disks that they.

shall move approximately in synchronism, an

electric battery, and means controlled by said battery for making a visual or audible signal when the proper symbol on one disk passes a given index, each disk and its operating mechanism, being wholly unconnected from the other disk, substantially as described.

11. An apparatus for signaling, comprising two disks with symbols similarly arranged thereon, clockwork mechanism at each station for rotating said disks approximately in synchronism, a pointer ateach disk, means for setting the two disks in the same angular relation relative to their respective pointers, an electric battery and means controlled by said battery for operating said pointer, and for making a visual or audible signal when the proper symbol on one disk passes its pointer, each disk and its operating mechanism, being wholly unconnected from the other disk, substantially as described.

12. An apparatus for signaling, comprising two similar disks with symbols thereon, one disk at the sending-station and one at the receiving-station, clockwork mechanism at each station for rotating said disks, means for so adjusting the motion of said disks that they shall move approximately in synchronism, a pointer at each disk, means for setting the two disks in the same angular relation relative to their respective pointers, an electric battery, and means controlled by said battery for operating said pointer, and for making a visual or audible signal when the proper symbol on one disk passes its pointer, substantially as described.

13. An apparatus for transmitting intelligence by means of signals, which comprises two independently-driven disks bearing similar symbols similarly disposed thereon, and rotating atknown relative speeds, and means for signaling at the time that either disk reaches any given angular distance from a fixed axis, each disk and its operating mechanism, being wholly unconnected from the other disk, substantially as described.

14. An apparatus for signaling, comprising two disks with symbols similarly arranged thereon, mechanism at each station for rotating said disks by a step-by-step motion and approximately in synchronism, and means for making a visual or audible signal when the proper symbol on one disk passes a given index, each disk and itsoperating mechanism, being wholly unconnected from the other disk, substantially as described.

15. An apparatus for signaling, comprising two similar disks with symbols thereon, one disk at the sending-station and one at the receiving-station. mechanism at each station for imparting a step-by-step motion to said disks, means for so adjusting the motion of said disks that they shall move approximately in synchronism, and means for making a.

Visual or audible signal when the proper symbol on one disk passes a given index, each disk and its operatingmechanism, being wholly unconnected from the other disk, substantially as described.

16. An apparatus for signaling, comprising two disks with symbols similarly arranged thereon, mechanism at each station for rotating said disks by a step-by-step motion and approximately in synchronism, a pointer at each disk, means for setting the two disks in the same angular relation relative to their respective pointers, and means for making a visual or audible signal when the proper symbol on one disk passes its pointer,each disk and its operating mechanism, being wholly unconnected from the other disk, substantially as described.

17. An apparatus for signaling, comprising two similar disks with symbols thereon, one disk at the sending-station and one at the receiving-station, mechanism at each station for rotating each of said disks, means for so adjusting the motion'of said disks that they shall move approximately in synchronism, a pointer at each disk, means for setting the two disks in the same angular relation relative to their respective pointers, means for making a visual or audible signal when the proper symbol on one disk passes its pointer, and means for marking at the other disk the moment when this signal is observed, each disk and its operating mechanism, being wholly unconnected from the other disk, substantially as described.

18. An apparatus for signaling, comprising two disks with symbols similarly arranged thereon, mechanism at each station for rotating saiddisks approximately in synchronism, an electric battery at each station, and means operated by one of said batteries for making a visual or audible signal when the proper symbol on one disk passes agiven index, with means operated by the other battery for marking the time that the said signal is observed, substantially as described.

19. An apparatus for signaling, comprising two similar disks with symbols thereon, one disk at the sending-station and one at the receiving-station, mechanism at each station for rotating said disks, means for so adjusting the motion of said disksthat they shall move approximately in synchronism, an electric battery at each station, and means operated by one of said batteries for making a visual or audible signal when the proper symbol on one disk passes a given index, with means operated by the other battery for marking the time thatrthe said signal is observed, substantially described.

20. An apparatus for signaling, com prising two disks with symbols similarly arranged thereon, mechanism at each station for rotating said disks approximately in synchronism, a pointer at each disk, means for setting the two disks in the same angular relation relative to their respective pointers, an electric battery at each station and means operated by one of said batteries for making a visual or audible signal when the proper symbol on the disk at the sending-station passes its pointer, with means operated by the battery at the receiving-station for moving its pointer when the signal is observed, substantially as described.

21. An apparatus for signaling, comprising at the sending-station and at the receivingstation two operated sending and receiving devices comprising at each station the disk G, and independent means for rotating and adjusting the same, the pointer H, the battery K and its circuit, the key L and switch L, and an electrically-0perated signal contained in said battery-circuit, each disk and its operating mechanism, being Wholly unconnected from the other disk, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

E D WAR D J. SILKMAN. 

